A learned treatise of the plague

For the better determining of this question, they would have it to be considered what the Plague is, from whence it cometh, what is the cause of it, by what means it is sent unto us, what is the nature of it, and what the end?

For the better determining of this question, they would have it to be considered what the Plague is, from whence it commeth, what is the cause of it, by what means it is sent unto us, what is the nature of it, and what the end?

I take their Proposals, for it is most lawful and reasonable: But how shall we come to the knowledge of these things? By no means (say they) from any reasons out of Physic, but only by the word of God. Then let all things disputed by Physicians be blotted out; and instead of the Books of Hippocrates, Galen, and others, Let Physicians read only the Bible; and let there be no difference between them, and Divines; between the Physic of the body, and the mind. Nay, God forbid, will they say; for we condemn no other reasons of Physic, than such as are against the word of God. Let us enquire then (forasmuch as Infection hath its beginning from Natural causes, and therefore proceedeth from them,) whether concerning Natural causes of the Plague, there be any thing taught in the word of God, contrary to the Rules and Judgement of Physicians. They say that the Plague is called by the Hebritians Dener, of the word Daner, which also signifieth to destroy, by Sentence given by God: and that the Grecians do render it Thanaton, that is to say, Death. Be it so, it is not much to the matter; •or hereof it followeth not, that the Plague proceedeth not of Natural •auses coming between, because it is sent by God, unless that we will •ave therefore all Natural causes of Diseases taken away, because no man dieth, but God decreeing of what kind and manner of death soever it be that ⟨p. 4⟩he die. Nay, (say they) it is a folly to call the Sentence of God, whereby he appointeth unto every man, not only death it self, but also the kind of death, and Second causes, infections. But who I pray ever doted so much as to call the Sentence it self, of God, infectious? But that which we say is far otherwise, namely, That the Infection it self is to be reckoned amongst Second causes; for who can deny that many Diseases are gotten by Handling and Touching? of the which some are deadly, and other some are less dangerous; unless they will also contend that the Sun shineth not at noon day? Sin indeed, wherewith we are all born infected, and from which all this Dying cometh, by a certain Spiritual infection, not without the Decree of God, it is conveyed and spread into all the posterity of Adam: therefore there is no substance at all in this Reason. But they also demand, if Infection be reckoned amongst Second causes appointed by God, how we can avoid that which is ordained by God?